STONES OF FIRE

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER TWO

(Continued)

Robert tiptoed away from the jeweller's, then ran like the wind to see if Leaf was home. He knew she did home schooling, he knew she would not be angry he wasn't as school, also he knew she would be calm and know what to do.

When he arrived, he was so winded, he bent over double, panting.

Maya and Wes were outside playing, having a break. They stared at poor Robert gasping and Maya yelled "Mam! Mam! Come here!"

She came, took one look, guided Robert into the kitchen, sat him down, and gave him a glass of water.

He gulped it down, as if he had been dying of thirst. Then he managed to tell Leaf what was happening. She rang the police , but thanks to Angel, they already knew.

Then she rang Neville to explain. After that she fed Robert some home-made cookies and reassured him he was a hero and would no doubt one day be welcomed warmly into the police force - providing of course, that he tried hard not to play truant.

Then Leaf sent Robert to school with a note explaining how brave he had been and gave him some money for lunch. Yes, she would have to tell his mother, but she also would say what a brave lad he was, possibly a life-saver.

Neville came home early, reassured them all and went to the Lewis' shop to see if he could help. He could hear all the sirens as indeed could all Paradise.

At school, the skinny, freckled, tufty-haired boy was hailed as a hero. Kids now wanted to talk to Robert.

The teachers, all as one, encouraged him to work hard. He had a future. He began to believe them.

Leaf and Neville had talked very nicely and unassumingly to Diane, Robert's mother, who was still waiting for her husband, Walt, to return after leaving several years ago to look for a job.

Thy came to an agreement that Robert could come to Leaf and Neville's house for breakfast and afternoon snacks. After all, they lived nearby and should have offered before. Diane worked such long hours in her office job.